P.E.I. mother wants return of gluten-free buns to Dairy Queen

A P.E.I. Dairy Queen that offered gluten-free hamburger buns has been told to stop, prompting an Island mother to campaign to bring the buns back.

Charlottetown location briefly offered gluten-free buns but the head office didn't approve

CBC News · Posted: Apr 05, 2018 3:06 PM EDT | Last Updated: April 6, 2018

The Charlottetown Dairy Queen offered gluten-free hamburger buns until the corporate office told them they weren't allowed. (Pat Martel/CBC)

A P.E.I. Dairy Queen that offered gluten-free hamburger buns has been told to stop, prompting an Island mother to campaign to bring the buns back.

Jenna MacLean said eating out with her family can be challenging. Both she and her 12-year-old son have celiac disease and it can be tough to find restaurants that won't make them sick.

For a few months, the Dairy Queen in Charlottetown was selling gluten-free hamburger buns. But the location was told to stop by head office because the item wasn't corporate-approved.

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"It's unfortunate that the head office for Dairy Queen doesn't feel that same way and see the benefits of introducing a product such as a gluten-free bun not only would probably increase their clientele but bring them more profit," she said.

'They were fantastic'

Jenna MacLean and her son Regan are campaigning to have Dairy Queen offer gluten-free buns after the Charlottetown location was told the buns they offered weren't approved. (Submitted by Jenna MacLean)

MacLean is hoping to get enough support to convince the company to bring the gluten-free buns back.

"They were fantastic," she said. "What 12-year-old doesn't like to go for a hamburger? So that was his one way of feeling like the rest of the kids and just feeling like a normal kid."

No plans to include gluten-free items

In an email, a spokesperson said all food items have to go through an approval process before being sold at any Dairy Queen Canada location and that the company has no current plans to include gluten-free products on its menus.

Although our research and development teams do consider the importance of gluten free options, Dairy Queen Canada has no current plans to include gluten free products on our menu.— Dairy Queen

"To ensure customers are receiving the highest quality products and services, all food items must go through an approval process before they can be sold at any Dairy Queen Canada location," the company said. "Although our research and development teams do consider the importance of gluten-free options, Dairy Queen Canada has no current plans to include gluten-free products on our menu."

MacLean said it was "heartbreaking" to find out the buns were no longer being offered because it was a fast way for her family to get dinner. They have to check the labels on everything that they buy and eating out is very difficult for the family. But, she said the staff at the DQ in Charlottetown were well-educated because some of them have celiac disease as well.

'Exhausting' to find restaurant food

"To find a restaurant that it trustworthy and educated, that means the world to not only myself but I'm sure every other parent out there," she said. "It can be very exhausting to take a simple day trip without needing to pack a lunch or whatever meal you might need."

MacLean is encouraging anyone who supports the introduction of gluten-free buns to contact Dairy Queen.